Eraser



Feb. 6, 1968 E. A. cYRol. 3,366,990

ERASER Filed June 1.3, 1966 .#qJ @2 1 'i il /M/EA/me EDM/ND ,4. Cy/QOL United States Patent Cfice 3,366,99@ Patented Feb. 6, 1968 3,366,990 ERASER Edmund A. Cyrol, 1444 Sequoia, Glenview, Ill. 60025 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 387,015, Aug. 3, 1964. This application .lune 13, 1966, Ser. No. 557,026

3 Claims. (Cl. 15-425) The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 387,015, filed Aug. 3, 1964, by Edmund A. Cyrol, now abandoned.

This invention relates to an improved eraser construction and particularly to a pencil type eraser of the type which is adapted to be sharpened in a pencil Sharpener.

Certain types of eraser constructions adapted to be sharpened in a pencil Sharpener include an erasing element of cylindrical, elongated shape supported by a surrounding cylindrical wooden sheath or support member. In known pencil type erasers the axis of the exible erasing element is co-axial with the axis of the sheath or support. A problem encountered with these pencil type erasers is that when sharpened in a pencil Sharpener, the central flexible relatively pointed erasing portion projects a substantial distance from the sheath in an entirely unsupported manner. As a result, the pointed flexible end bends, making it ditiicult to erase individual letters or other small markings on the paper without affecting other markings because a relatively large portion of the flexible erasing element contacts the paper. In addition, erasing is diilicult because the flexible point-like tip tends to flop back and forth as the eraser is moved across the paper.

In the past an effort has been made to eliminate these disadvantages by removing most of the protruding pointed tip of the eraser element, as by cutting otf part of the tip, to blunt it. Although this prevents hopping of the eraser member, the blunt, large area tip makes it diiicult to erase single letters or punctuation marks without erasing adjoining characters. In some instances the eraser member has been made small in diameter so as not to protrude too far from the support member. This has the disadvantage that no large area surface is available on the eraser element for erasing large areas, such as entire words. In addition, frequent sharpening is required. A more rigid eraser material does not solve the problem because it is generally too abrasive and does not erase satisfactorily.

It has been known that an eraser -could be made of a soft rubber portion and a supporting portion formed of wood and having iiat sides bonded to each other. In one such arrangement, the end of the device is made in the shape of a wedge, with both the wood and rubber extending to the point of the Wedge. This type of construction cannot be used for erasing a small area because the wood extending to the edge of the erasing portion interferes with its use. For one thing, the edge cannot be used when the eraser is perpendicular to the paper. Furthermore, this type of eraser cannot be sharpened to a point-like tip in a pencil Sharpener because, the eraser member not being surrounded by the wood support, the Sharpener cutters meet less resistance at the rubber side of the construction than at the Wood side. As a result, the rubber is removed and the tip of the cone is formed entirely of wood.

Therefore, it is an important object of the invention to provide an improved eraser construction which substantially avoids problems encountered with prior pencil type erasers.

A further object is to provide an improved eraser construction of the type which can be sharpened to a substantially conical shape with a point-like tip in a pencil Sharpener, and which, when sharpened, has a tip formed entirely of eraser material.

Another object is to provide a pencil type eraser in which the erasing portion presents both a small area tip and a large area portion, and wherein the tip is supported at one side to prevent opping.

Still another object is to provide a pencil type eraser using a relatively flexible eraser material wherein the tip is supported to minimize flopping of the eraser, and wherein the support does not interfere with the use of the tip.

In accordance with these and other objects of the invention, an embodiment of the invention may comprise a pencil type eraser including an elongated tubular support member and an elongated erasing element disposed within the support member. In accordance with an important feature of the invention, the erasing element is disposed eccentrically within the support member so that a greater portion of the erasing element is disposed at one side of the central longitudinal axis of the support member, and a lesser but substantial portion is disposed at the opposite side. When an end of the pencil type eraser is sharpened in a pencil Sharpener, the substantially conical end is constituted of the relatively pointed projecting tip of the erasing element, and of a tongue-like tapered extension of the support member disposed at one side of the erasing element. The tongue-like tapered extension of the support member disposed at one side of the erasing element. The tongue-like extension extends toward but terminates short of the tip, and serves to support the tip when it is used for erasing. Thus, the small area tip may be used for erasing single letters and the like, and the tongue-like extension prevents bending and Hopping of the tip, and does not interfere with its use. In addition, a large area erasing portion opposite the extension may be used for erasing large areas.

Further obiects and advantages of the invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

Particular embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying rawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a broken side view of my improved eraser construction;

FIGURE 2 is a broken front view of the eraser construction of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged secti-onal view taken along the line 3 3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, except that the eraser parts are shown in a separated condition;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side view of my improved eraser construction when in use;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side View of a prior art eraser construction when in use;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side view of an alternative embodiment of my invention;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 8 8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary side view of another alternative embodiment of my invention; and

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line lil- 10 of FIGURE 9.

Referring now to the drawing and initially to FIGURES 1-5, there is illustrated a pencil type eraser generally designated as lil and comprising one embodiment of my invention. The eraser 10 includes a tubular elongated support member 14, and `an elongated erasing element 12 disposed within the support member I4.

The eraser 10 is adapted to be sharpened in a pencil Sharpener, and for this reason is formed in a generally cylindrical, pencil-like shape. Although the cylindrical eraser 10 is illustrated as having a circular cross section, the eraser may have other cross sections such as hexagonal. When the eraser 10 is sharpened as illustrated in FIGURES l, 2 and 5, the end of the eraser is formed 3 substantially into the shape of a cone with a point like tip 16.

In accordance with an important feature of the present invention, the eraser is formed in a novel manner so that when sharpened, the small area tip 16 of the erasing element 14 is supported against bending and flopping and can be used for erasing single letters and the like. In addition, a larger area surface is available for larger erasures. More specifically, in accordance with the invention, the erasing portion 12 is disposed eccentrically within the tubular support member 14, and when the eraser is sharpcned, the conical end portion is constituted of the relatively pointed projecting tip 16 of the erasing element 12, and of a tapered tongue-like extension 28 of the support member 14.

The tapered tongue-like extension 28 extends toward the tip 16, but terminates short of the tip. Thus, the extension 2S does not interfere with the use of the tip 16, but serves the highly desirable function of supporting the tip to prevent bending and ilopping when it is used for erasing. Since the tip is supported, a relatively pointed small area tip may be used, even where the erasing element 12 is formed of a relatively soft and flexible erasing material.

Referring now more specifically to the construction of the eraser 10, the erasing element 12 is bounded throughout most of its periphery by a circular cylindrical surface coaxial with the central longitudinal axis of the support member 14. The eccentric position of the erasing element 12 within the support member 14 is achieved through the provision of a at 1S on the erasing element. Thus, as

appears most clearly in FIGURE 3, a greater portion of the eraser element 12 is disposed at one side of the axis of the support member, and a lesser but substantial portion is disposed at the opposite side. The erasing element 12 may be formed of any suitable exible erasing material such as rubber or the like.

The support member 14 is formed of two mating sections 20 and 22, preferably made of wood. These sections are joined, as by gluing, along cooperating flat surfaces 24, these lying substantially in the plane of the central longitudinal axis of the support member 14. Each section has a semicircular outer periphery, and an inner wall shaped to engage the surface of the erasing element 12. Thus, the section 20 includes a tlat wall 26 engaging the flat 18 on the erasing element 12.

Thus it can be seen that there is provided in accordance with the invention a novel pencil type eraser having a small area tip 16, supported by the tapered tongue-like extension 28, and a large area erasing surface opposite the extension 28. An important advantage of the invention appears from a comparison of FIGURES 5 and 6 wherein the lower portions of the eraser 10 and a prior art eraser E are shown in use. The tip of the eraser 10 can be used for erasing small areas without bending or hopping, even when considerable force is applied to the eraser 10. In the prior art construction, it is difficult to use the tip because it ops back and forth, and bends over so that a large surface area of the erasing element contacts the paper.

Referring now to FIGURES 7 and 8, there is illustrated a pencil type eraser generally designated as 30 and comprising an alternative embodiment of the invention. The eraser 30 includes an erasing element 32 and an elongated tubular support member 34.*The erasing element 32 is circular in cross section, and is disposed in a pronounced eccentric position within the support member 34. Thus, when the eraser 30 is sharpened in a pencil Sharpener, as shown in FIGURE 7, the conical end portion of the eraser includes a projecting relatively pointed tip 36,

and a tapered tongue-like extension 38 supporting the tip without interfering with its use.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG- URES 9 and 10 wherein there is illustrated a pencil type eraser generally designated as 40, and including an erasing element 42 and an elongated tubular support member 44. This embodiment is generally similar to the eraser 10 described in detail above, except that the erasing element 42 includes a concave surface 4d (FIGURE 10) rather than a flat, and the supporting member 44 includes a cooperating convex surface 48. This construction has the advantage that when the eraser 40 is sharpened in a pencil Sharpener to produce .the relatively pointed tip 52, the tapered tongue-like extension S4 is thicker, and therefore stronger than where dat surfaces are used.

In the construction of pencil type erasers embodying the invention and including the embodiments illustrated and described herein, it is believed that certain dimensions are preferable for obtaining a particularly satisfactory eraseri.e., an eraser with a small area point-like tip and a large area erasing portion, and with a supporting extension extending toward but terminating short of the tip. In order that the extension extend close enough to support the tip, but not extend so close as to interfere with the use of the tip, the support member should preferably be spaced approximately between /g and 1/16 of an inch from the axis of the support at one side. At the other side, in order to obtain a larger area erasing portion opposite the tongue-like extension, the support member should preferably be spaced more than approximately '0){52 of an inch from the axis at the opposite side.

In pencil type erasers similar to the eraser 10 illustrated in FIGURES l-5 of the drawing and actually made and used, the following dimensions were found to result in a very satisfactory eraser. These dimensions are given by way of illustration, and are not intended to limit the invention as claimed in the claims annexed hereto.

Inches Outer diameter of the eraser .305

Diameter of the circular cylindrical portion of the erasing element .205 Distance from the central longitudinal axis of the support member to the flat 18 .062 Distance from the central longitudinal axis of the support member to the opposite side, i.e., ra-

dius of the circular cylindrical portion of the erasing element .1025

While the present invention has been described in connection with the details of specic embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A pencil type eraser of the type having an end adapted to be sharpened in a pencil Sharpener, said eraser comprising an elongated tubular support member having a central longitudinal axis, and an elongated llexible erasing element disposed within said support member, said erasing element being materially eccentric with respect to the support member so that a greater portion of the erasing element is disposed to one side and a lesser but substantial portion is disposed at the opposite side of said longitudinal axis, said support member being spaced approximately from 1,;@2 to 1/16 of an inch lfrom said axis at said one side, and more than approximately of an inch at the opposite side, said eraser when sharpened in a pencil Sharpener being characterized by a substantially conical end constituted of the relatively pointed projecting tip of the erasing element and of a tapered tongue-like extension of said support member at said one side of the axis, said tongue-like extension extending toward but terminating short of the tip and supporting the tip when it is used for erasing.

2. A pencil type eraser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said erasing element is circular in cross section through most of its periphery, and includes a flat at said one side.

3. A pencil type eraser of the type having an end adapted to be sharpened in a pencil Sharpener, said eraser cornprising an elongated tubular support member having a central longitudinal axis, and an elongated flexible erasing element disposed within said support member, said erasing element being materially eccentric with respect to the support member so that a greater portion of the erasing element is disposed to one side and a lesser but substantial portion is disposed at the opposite side of said longitudinal axis, said eraser when sharpened in a pencil Sharpener being characterized by a substantially conical end constituted of the relatively pointed projecting tip of the erasing element and of a tapered tongue-like extension of said support member at said one side of the axis, said tongue-like extension extending toward but terminat- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 775,616 11/1904 Warren 120-40 1,249,989 12/ 1917 Montgomery 120-40 1,969,015 8/1934 Knuth l20-83 1,997,363 4/1935 Hastings 1Z0-8.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 834,139 11/1959 Great Britain.

ing short of the tip and supporting the tip when it is used 15 LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner- 

1. A PENCIL TYPE ERASER OF THE TYPE HAVING AN END ADAPTED TO BE SHARPENED IN A PENCIL SHARPENER, SAID ERASER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED TUBULAR SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL AXIS, AND AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE ERASING ELEMENT DISPOSED WITHIN SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID ERASING ELEMENT BEING MATERIALLY ECCENTRIC WITH RESPECT TO THE SUPPORT MEMBER SO THAT A GREATER PORTION OF THE ERASING ELEMENT IS DISPOSED TO ONE SIDE AND A LESSER BUT SUBSTANTIAL PORTION IS DISPOSED AT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER BEING SPACED APPROXIMATELY FROM 1/32 TO 1/16 OF AN INCH FROM SAID AXIS AT 